Am.  jour^^phann.j  Commeuts  OH  Magcndie's  Formulary.  221 
is  the  fact  that  the  subject  of  weights  and  measures  must  have  been 
in  a  transition  state  when  the  book  was  written,  as  there  are  paren- 
thetic notes  everywhere  of  which  the  following  examples  may  be 
given : 
I  lb.  (15  oz.  6  dr.  I  grain  troy) 
I  oz.  (7  dr.  52.5  grains  troy) 
I  gros  (59  grains  troy) 
4  grains  (3.28  grains  troy) 
I  grain  (0.82  grain  troy) 
This  is  very  confusing  in  the  light  of  modern  practice  and  even 
when  taking  into  consideration  the  pharmaceutical  history  of  weight 
systems  and  their  fluctuations.  In  the  first  place  it  indicates  two 
different  standards  for  the  grain  in  actual  use,  some  light  is  thrown 
upon  this  in  one  portion  of  the  book  where  it  is  stated,  i  grain  Fr. 
(grain  0.82  troy).  As  Magendie  was  a  French  physician,  the  system 
was  likely  a  French  system.  Calculating  it  in  terms  of  troy  grains 
the  pound  must  have  weighed  7561  grains  troy  and  the  ounce  472.5 
grains  troy,  the  gros  (59  grains  troy)  was  evidently  the  eighth  part 
of  this  ounce. 
It  is  odd,  too,  that  Magendie  should  not  employ  the  metric 
system,  as  it  had  been  in  use  for  some  years  in  France.  The  only 
reference  to  it  is  found  in  several  formulas  where  the  liquid  is  directed 
in  litres,  while  the  solids  are  directed  in  grains,  a  jumbling  together 
of  the  old  and  the  new. 
Another  interesting  impression  gained  by  a  general  survey  of  the 
book  is  the  list  of  substances  and  preparations  unfamiliar  to  the 
pharmaceutical  practice  of  to-day.  Notable  among  these  are 
Testarum  Praeparatum  (prepared  oyster  shells),  Castoreum  Ros- 
sicum  (glands  from  the  Russian  beaver),  Cuprum  Ammoniatum, 
Ferrum  Ammoniatum,  Syrupus  Mori  (syrup  of  mulberries),  Infusum 
Armoraciae  Composition  (compound  infusion  of  horse  radish). 
Burnt  oyster  shell,  burnt  hartshorn  and  burnt  sponge  all  seem  to  have 
been  in  use  at  that  time. 
The  nomenclature,  too,  must  call  for  passing  comment.  Sub- 
carbonate  was  the  term  employed  then  where  we  now  employ  bi- 
carbonate. Antimonium  Tartarizatum  was  the  older  name  for 
Tartar  Emetic.  Hydrargyri  Submurias  for  calomel  and  Hydrarg5rri 
Oxymurias  for  corrosive  sublimate,  would  look  strange  on  a  modern 
prescription.  Tinctura  Lyttae  was  the  former  name  for  Tincture 
of  Cantharides.    Turnsol  paper  was  an  indicator  then  used  as  we 
